LTC 179-2022 New Miami Beach Business Academy program to provide technical assistance to small businesses179-2022
MIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CIT Y MANAGER
NO . LTC# LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
Honorable Mayor Dan Gelber and ~embers of the City Commission
Alina T. Hudak. City Manag ff.Y
May 4, 2022
SUBJECT : New Miami Beach Business Academy program to provide technical assistance
to small businesses
The purpose of this Letter to Commission (L TC) is to provide information regarding the launch of
the Miami Beach Business Academy technical assistance program funded through Community
Development Block Grant -Coronavirus (CDBG-CV).
On October 28, 2020, the City Commission approved Resolution No. 2020-31471, which provided
$600,000 for small businesses grants via CDBG-CV in addition to funding to further assist
businesses through technical assistance . Throughout the process of administering the CD BG-CV
Emergency Small Business Reimbursement Grant program, the Economic Development
Department has encountered numerous small businesses and microenterprises in need of
training and technical assistance resources. Many small businesses throughout the City were
ineligible for CDBG-CV grant funding due to a lack of administrative and operational
preparedness, and as a result, were among the most vulnerable in the wake of the COVID-19
pandemic .
To make this new technical assistance resource available, the Economic Development
Department has partnered with Prospera, a not-for-profit organization specializing in providing
bilingual assistance to entrepreneurs and small businesses. The Miami Beach Business Academy
program will provide in person and virtual technical assistance training and consulting free of
charge to the City's small business community in accordance with CDBG-CV guidelines and
requirements. The technical assistance services will be available to aspiring and established
entrepreneurs and small businesses for up to eight (8) months commencing in May 2022 and
concluding in December 2022.
Over the course of the program term, Prospera, in coordination with the Economic Development
Department, will design, organize, and conduct at least twelve (12) virtual training sessions on
capacity building through various topics including growth strategy analysis, best business
practices, business continuity, how to access capital, how to improve your digital presence, and
how to effectively manage your payroll. Six (6) of the virtual training sessions will be conducted in
English and six (6) virtual training sessions will be conducted in Spanish. Entrepreneurs and small
business owners may participate in any combination of virtual training sessions based on topics
of their choosing. Additionally, one-on-one, in person trainings will also be provided free of charge
to entrepreneurs and small business owners via English or Spanish. While the program is
available to the public, all CDBG-CV small business grant recipients are encouraged to
participate.
The City and Prospera will utilize strategic online and in person promotions focused on engaging
small businesses and entrepreneurs located within the City of Miami Beach to increase
awareness and participation in the technical assistance program. Outreach and marketing of the
program will be conducted through various channels including targeted e-blasts, social media
posts, and door-to-door canvassing in key commercial corridors. The program will also be
promoted through the chambers of commerce, business improvement districts and business
associations.
Informational Webinar
On May 11, 2022, the City will host an informational webinar prior to the launch of the Miami
Beach Business Academy. During the webinar, the business community will learn more about
program details including an overview of the planned training curriculum, schedule, and available
delivery methods . The webinar will be held in English from 5:00 P.M to 6:30 PM, and in Spanish
from 6:30 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Interested individuals may join the webinar via Zoom:
https :/ /us06web .zoom. us/j/84404433 796?pwd=OXY1 Rkt5Wk5IckZjZjlXOCt1 Z0F5dz09 .
The webinar invitation may be found below.
For more information, please contact Rickelle Williams, Economic Development Director at
rickellewillia 's miamibeachfl. ov .
The City of Miami Beach is pleased to present the Miami Beach Business Academy -a
free , virtual and in-person technical assistance program to ass ist and build the capacity of
small businesses and entrepreneurs . Th is informational webinar will introduce small
businesses to upcoming monthly training and capacity-bu ilding programming. The webinar
will be conducted by the city·s Economic De velo pment Department and Prospera , a local
technical assistance pro vider , to present an overview of the sessions that will take place from
May -December 2022.
These month ly sessions wi ll be co nducted in Eng li sh and Spanish , and explore topics such
as growth strategy analysis , best practices , business continuity , access to capital , and
communications , marketing and digital presence and how to access the one-on-one
business mentoring sessions.
Wednesday, May 11, 2022
English Session: 5 PM -6:30 PM
Spanish Session : 6:30 PM -8 PM
Join via Zoom :
https :l/us06web.zoom .us/j/84404433796?pwd=OXY1 Rkt5Wk5IckZjZjlXOCt1Z0F5dz0
Or by phone: +1 .646 .558 .8656
Webinar ID : 844.0443.3 796
For more information or to request specia l accommodations , please co ntact Michael Rivera
at michaelrivera@miam ibeachfl .gov .
La ciudad de Miami Beach se complace en presentar Miami Beach Business [lcji_dJtl!lY, un
programa gratuito de asistencia tec ni ca virtua l yen persona para ayudar a desarrollar la
capacidad de las pequenas empresas y los empresarios . El seminario web informativo
presentara a las peq uenas empresas la pr6xima programaci6n mensual de capacitaci6n y
desarrollo de capacidades. El seminario web se llevara a cabo co n el Departamento de
Desarrollo Econ6mico y Prospera , un proveedor loca l de asistencia tecn ica, y presentara una
descripc i6n general de las sesiones que se ll evaran a cabo de mayo a diciembre de 2022.
Las sesiones mensuales se rea liz aran en ingles y espaiiol. y explore temas como el analisis
de la estrategia de crecim iento , las mejores practicas , la ccnti nuidad del negocio, el acceso al
ca pital y las ccmunicaciones , el marketing y la presencia digital, y c6mo acceder a las
sesiones de tutoria empresarial uno a uno.
Miercoles, 11 de mayo del 2022 a las
Sesi6n en Ingles: 5 PM -6 :30 PM
Sesi6n en Espanol: 6:30 PM -8 PM
Unase a traves de Zoom:
https://us06web.zoom.us /j/84404433796?pwd=OXY1 Rkt5Wk5IckZjZjlXOCt1Z0F5dz0
0 por telefono : +1 .646.558.8656
ID del seminario web: 844.0443.3796
Para obtener mas infonna ci6n o solicitar adaptaciones especia les , comuniquese con Michael
Ri vera en michae lrivera@miam ibeach .gov.